The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Eleven
God of War: Ragnarok Celebration - Game Review, Part 1

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we kick off our God of War: Ragnarok Celebration, which will span three episodes and feature a multi-part review of the game, as well as a complete retrospective of the God of War franchise. For this first episode, we discuss the early sections of the game, and offer our impressions of what’s changed, what has stayed the same, and how it feels to re-join Kratos and Atreus in the Nine Realms in an effort to avert Ragnarok. We will also go into very early story spoilers, but there will be a clear SPOILER WARNING to stop listening at that point if you aren’t as far along yet in your journey. PLUS: The latest video game news, Brandon’s Physical Games Corner, Rich’s Digital Picks, and more. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

019:01 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Remedy Announces Control 2
• Nintendo Switch IndieWorld Showcase Announcements
• More Drama Surrounding Disco Elysium Developer ZA/UM
• The Game Awards 2022 Award Nominees

58:05 - Brandon’s Physical Games Corner

1:13:57 - Rich’s Digital Picks 

• Game Pass and GWG
• Playstation Plus

1:39:48 - God of War: Ragnarok Review (Part 1)

2:50:29 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Ten
The Top 10 Best Open-World Video Games

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we set out to create the next entry in our growing series of Top Ten lists, and this time we turn our attention to the most epic of all genres - Open-World Video Games. And the timing is certainly appropriate - this year, games like Elden Ring, Horizon: Forbidden West, Gotham Knights, and Sonic Frontiers have consumed much of the gaming discourse, and for good reason. Open-world games give players a sense of freedom, exploration and discovery that few (if any) genres can rival. The rules of the episode are simple: we each start the discussion with our own personal top ten lists, and by way of a (supposedly) mathematically-sound process, we combine our individual lists into one definitive TJOG Top Ten List.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

07:10 - The Top Ten Best Open-World Video Games

• Introduction
• Individual Top Tens
• The Merge and Tie-Breakers
• The Final List

1:56:35 - Closing Thoughts / Contact

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Nine
God of War: Ragnarok Hype, PSVR 2, Gotham Knights Review, Silent Hill 2

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss the latest news and game releases here at the start of November, including the incredible anticipation for God of War: Ragnarok’s release, the release date and games announcement for Playstation VR 2, rumors surrounding Hideo Kojima’s next few games, what’s next for The Witcher franchise and more. Meanwhile, Rich has finished Gotham Knights and has some harsh criticisms (but also some surprising praise) for the divisive title, and Brandon is diving back into the original Silent Hill 2 in honor of the Halloween season. Plus: we cover the latest physical media announcements, the latest releases on Game Pass and PS Plus, and more.

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

010:56 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• New Studio from Playstation and Naughty Dog
• EA Lands 3-Game deal with Marvel and Disney
• Rocksteady Games Co-Founders Leave the Studio
• Hideo Kojima News Block (Overdose, New Game = New Medium)
• Playstation VR 2 Release Date and Games List
• The Original The Witcher is Getting a Remake
• Cliff Bleszinski Releases ‘Control Freak’ (A Memoir)

1:06:56 - Brandon's Physical Games Corner

1:14:05 - Rich’s Digital Picks (Game Pass and PS Plus)

1:34:43 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Gotham Knights (Review)
• Silent Hill 2
• Five Dates

2:19:32 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Eight
Batman in Video Games Retrospective (Batman: The Video Game - Gotham Knights)

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we look back at Batman’s history in video games, from the original NES game Batman: The Video Game (1989), up through the release  of Gotham Knights this past month. To do this, we follow the dark knight through a wide array of gaming adventures, including some super-high highs and some crushingly-low lows, but most notably, we discuss the Rocksteady Games (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knights), the LEGO Batman games, the NetherRealm games (like Injustice: Gods Among Us and MK vs. DC Universe), and Batman: The Telltale Series, to name a few. 

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

013:52 - Batman in Video Games Retrospective

• Sunsoft Games

• • • Batman: The Video Game (NES, Sunsoft, 1990)
    • Batman: Return of the Joker (NES, Sunsoft, 1991)

• Batman the Animated Series

• • • The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES, 1994/Genesis, 1995)

• Licensed Games (Comics, Animated Series & Movies)

• LEGO Batman

• • • Lego Batman: The Video Game (2008)
    • Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012)
    • Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014)
    • Lego Dimensions (2015)
    • Lego DC Supervillains (2018)

• TelltaleGames

• • • Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)
    • Batman: The Enemy Within (2017-2018)

• NetherRealm Games

• • • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (2008)
    • Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013) / Injustice 2 (2017)

• Batman Arkham Series

• • • Arkham Asylum (2009)
    • Arkham City (2011) + Armored Edition (WiiU, 2012)
    • Arkham Origins (2013)
    • Arkham Origins: Blackgate (2013)
    • Arkham Knight (2015)
    • Batman: Arkham VR (2016)
    • Batman: Return to Arkham (2016)

• The Current Era

• • Gotham Knights (2022) & Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023)

1:19:26 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Seven
Gotham Knights, Paradise Killer and Return to Monkey Island

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss one of the biggest, most anticipated, and controversial game releases of the year - Gotham Knights - and give initial impressions after the first 6 hours. Is 30 FPS on consoles enough to ground this open-world action game to a halt? Will the just-announced 4-player mode make an impact post-launch? We bat-dive into the details and share some strong opinions. We also discuss Paradise Killer, the game that asks the question, “What if Ace Attorney…but with the imagination turned up to eleven”, and offer final thoughts on the recently-released and much-lauded Return to Monkey Island. PLUS: the most important new releases in physical media and on PS Plus and Game Pass, and the most interesting gaming news of the past few weeks. 

Show Notes:

00:10 - Introduction

05:08 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Hellena Taylor and the Bayonetta 3 Voice Actor Drama
• Resident Evil 4 and More at the RE Showcase
• Silent Hill 2 and the Silent Hill Transmission 
• Sony May Cancel its Playstation Showcase…Because of Xbox?!?

1:28:25 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical

1:40:46 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

2:00:02 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Return to Monkey Island
• Paradise Killer
• F.E.A.R. 2
• Gotham Knights

3:03:41 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Six
The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we create our official TJOG Top 10 List of the best stories in video games, and along the way, explore the many unique ways that storytellers weave their tales of triumph, despair, joy and redemption through the games that we love to play. We also discuss recent video game news, the latest Physical Game releases from Limited Run, Special Reserve Games. Iam8bit, Super Rare Games and PlayAsia, all of the latest announcements for October’s Xbox Games With Gold, Game Pass and Playstation Plus lineups, and the games we’ve been playing lately, including The Quarry, Live A Live and Return to Monkey Island.  

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

08:37 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Google Finally Announces the End of Stadia
• US Labor Board Rules Against Activision Blizzard
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster for PS5 (rumor for now)
• First Trailer for Super Mario Bros. Movie

1:00:02 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical 

1:23:27 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:42:22 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Nobody Saves The World (Finished)
• The Quarry
• Live A Live (Finished)
• Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (Trial)
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX
• Return to Monkey Island

2:15:38 Main Topic: The Top 10 Best Stories in Video Games

• Chapter 1: What Makes a Great Video Game Story?
• Chapter 2: Individual Picks for Best Stories
• Chapter 3: The Big Finish
• Chapter 4: Compromises Must Be Made
• Chapter 5: The Official List

4:13:12 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Five
E3 in September (Nintendo Direct, State of Play, Ubisoft Forward, TGS, DMGS)

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we take on the challenge of discussing every big announcement from ALL FIVE of the major gaming events held this past month - Nintendo Direct, Playstation State of Play, Ubisoft Forward, the Disney and Marvel Games Showcase and the Tokyo Game Show. Together, this crazy concurrence of gaming events has been dubbed “E3 in September,” and we have a lot of opinions to share and final grades to award to each event. And as per tradition, we also discuss the latest additions to the Game Pass and PS Plus libraries for September, the newest releases in the world of limited-edition physical media, some of the games we’ve been playing recently and more.  

Run of Show:

00:10 - Introduction

06:06 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• GTA 6 Leak
• Babylon’s (actual) Fall
• New Witcher Trilogy
• Xbox Exec Wants to Show us Fable (but can’t)
• Halo’s Continued Woes
• Splinter Cell Remake will be “Updated”
• Iron Man Game Announced by EA Motive

0:51:58 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical 

1:18:58 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:44:48 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Dying Light
• Shovel Knight Dig
• Live A Live
• Nobody Saves the World

2:30:20 “E3 in September” 

• Disney and Marvel Games Showcase (Marvel’s Midnight Sons, Untitled Cap/Black Panther game, etc.)
• Ubisoft Forward (Assassin’s Creed: Infinity, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC, etc.)
• Nintendo Direct (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, etc.)
• Playstation State of Play (God of War: Ragnarok, Tekken 8, etc.)
• Tokyo Game Show (Like a Dragon 8, Suikoden HD, etc.)

4:07:34 Closing Thoughts / What We’re Playing Next…

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Four
Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Retrospective

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we take a journey back to the halcyon days of Xbox Live’s Summer of Arcade, when indie games weren’t as plentiful, but you knew there were at least 4-5 titles you could count on for quality each summer. In a retrospective format, we discuss the numerous masterpiece-level games Summer of Arcade gave us, including Limbo, Braid, Castle Crashers, Shadow Complex, and so many more. We also cover some recent gaming news highlights, run down the latest in Limited Edition Physical Media, Game Pass and PS Plus releases, and share a bit of what we’ve been playing. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

08:31 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• Quantic Dream Acquisition by NetEase
• Wild Arms/Shadow Hearts Dual Kickstarter
• Assassin’s Creed Rumors pre-Ubisoft Livestream
• Konami Teasing a game from “World-Loved” Franchise
• Nintendo Direct Hopes and Predictions 

1:00:39 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical 

1:18:20 - Rich’s Digital Picks (GamePass and PS Plus)

1:33:21 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Deathloop
• Cult of the Lamb

2:01:55 Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Retrospective 

• 2008 - Braid, Castle Crashers, etc.
• 2009 - Shadow Complex, Trials HD, etc.
• 2010 - Limbo, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, etc. 
• 2011 - Bastion, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, etc.
• 2012 - Dust: An Elysian Tale, Deadlight, etc.
• 2013 - Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Charlie Murder, etc.

3:15:40 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Three
The Top 10 2D Platformers of All-Time

On this mega-sized episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we celebrate one of the most classic and enjoyable video game genres - 2D Platformers - by constructing our definitive “The Joy of Gaming Top 10” list. We also discuss the recent Embracer Group acquisitions and Gamescom 2022 announcements in our gaming news segment, cover the latest releases in the worlds of Physical Media, Game Pass and PS Plus, and talk about the games we’ve been playing recently - including Cult of the Lamb, Live A Live and more. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

05:13 - Recent Gaming News

• Release Date Roundup
• PlayStation 5 Price Increase
• Sega Genesis Mini 2 Games List Revealed
• Alone in the Dark Reboot Announced
• First Gameplay Look at XIII Re-Remaster Revealed
• Crash Bandicoot Developer Seemingly Teases New Game
• Resident Evil 7 Was Almost a Live Service Game
• Embracer Group Buys Up Everything, including LOTR IP
• Troubled Star Wars Video Game Remake Shifts to New Studio
• Gamescom 2022 Announcements

1:30:36 - Brandon Presents: #ForeverPhysical 

1:45:05 - Rich’s Digital Picks

2:00:08 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Deathloop (Revisited)
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Replay)
• Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
• As Dusk Falls
• Call of Cthulhu
• Cult of the Lamb
• Live A Live

2:51:10 Top 10 2D Platformers of All-Time (we create the definitive TJOG Top Ten List)

4:04:56 Closing Thoughts

The (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast - Episode Two

Narrative Adventure Games: A Brief History (from Point-and-Click to As Dusk Falls)

On this episode of the (New) Joy of Gaming Podcast, we discuss two recently-released Narrative Adventure Games - As Dusk Falls and The Quarry - and attempt to trace the origins of this relatively new genre, from its point-and-click adventure roots through to the modern day. We also discuss some recent gaming news, offer our thoughts on the best new physical media, Game Pass and PS Plus releases, and talk about the games we’ve been playing recently. 

Run of Show:

00:06 - Introduction

01:26 - Recent Gaming News

• Marvel’s Midnight Suns delayed
• Square Enix may want to sell off some of its studios
• Eidos Montreal wants to make Deus Ex again
• Beyond Good and Evil 2 gets a lead writer (no, for real)

38:12 - #ForeverPhysical Segment w/Brandon

1:08:15 - Rich’s Digital Picks

1:29:57 - What We’ve Been Playing

• Batman: Arkham Asylum (Return to Arkham edition)
• Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
• Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (Replay)
• Stray

2:03:40 A Brief History of Narrative Adventure Games (including The Quarry, As Dusk Falls early impressions)

3:01:12 Closing Thoughts